TDF stage Neuf:ouch!

Today the tour finally shifted gear and the change was visible. Hitting the first ramps of the Peyresourde the pack blew up entirely, riders strewn across the south of France in scenes reminiscent of WW1. Victor on the day was the little Italian Mouth - Ricco, who took a class in pain on the slopes of the Aspin.

Watching the little man from Saunier Duval dance away from the pack reminded every commentator of Il Pirate on a good day. He flew past the break's last man Lang with one Km to go on the hill and tore down the other side to hold over a minute on the leaders group. Who knows when the sprinters got in - I think I saw headlights fitted to the a few bikes if that means anything?

Story of the day
The story of the day for many wasEvans hitting the deck - his jersey looked like a prop from Pirates of the Carribbean, after he used it as a sled somewhere early in the stage (never did catch any footage of the fall). But the REAL story of the day for me was Euskatel. After CSC's suicide ride the other day I thought I'd seen the dumbest thing ever, but the Basques came to party and party they did. By the start of the Aspin all their riders were toast, meaning that they didn't cross the pass on front, much to the dismay of their legion fans. Zubeldia didn't look great and they have to do it all again (with interest) tomorrow - even closer to the home country. I'd heard that the Basques were a suicidal bunch, but this was a pure disaster.